Ode to July: Naming the River

And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is. - Kurt Vonneugut

Its a white water river ride, yet with all its ups and downs, twist and turns, and moments of smooth sailing - all keeps aligning in my favor.  Will soon celebrate both the journey and the destination. 

There have been wild fires in Canada, transforming the sun into a red balloon like in 2023.  There have been kitty hijinks, and msgs from faraway friends.  There has been a gorgeous skies, and crazy storms, some stress, a few tears, but way more laughter and gratitude.  I ate my first fig right off the tree and it was delicious.  

Queen of the Eternal Side Eye

Ode to June: Like Water

“Go like water, come back like water—freely and easily.”
― Elif Shafak, There Are Rivers in the Sky 

Wherein all the parts align in my favor.  Hard work every free moment to prepare (doc appts, vet, car, ez pass, donation drop offs, cleaning, pruning, offer accepted, onboarding, freedom, grateful, awestruck, liberating). 

Ode to May: Deploy Strategic Joy

“Rivers are fluid bridges - channels of communication between separate worlds.
They link one bank to the other, the past to the future..." - Elif Shafak

Wherein strategic joy is deployed, a dream team, a plan, a quick visit with a beloved friend,  a deja vu on the way, a red bridge, a bear mountain, a smooth and seamless drive, the return to perfect staging, a community yard sale, pruning and preparing, resumes, a loft, an offer accepted, e-forms, pep talks, awe, gratitude.

 

21 Rides Around the Sun

Dear Satchel,



Happy 21st ride around the sun, a milestone birthday!  Happy twelve trillion two hundred sixty four billion miles (12, 264,000,000 )! 



This has been a pinnacle year!  You are now an auto mechanic and working towards advancement in your career!  You've moved into your first apartment with a friend and you're navigating life as an adult.
You swooped in like a hero when my car wouldn't start, and fixed it for me.  We had a lovely adventure last month - a road trip to see DakhaBrakha, Natural Bridge, and Falling Springs Falls.  I look forward to more adventures with you in the future, as we each follow our dreams.

We will keep our tradition of going out to eat to celebrate your birth.   I look forward to spending time with you and catching up at Taco Fuego. 



Twenty one years ago today you entered this world in time for brunch.  The window to our room faced Little Italy, which your dad and I snarkily called micro Italy because it was so small in comparison to the LiTa neighborhood (Little Italy) in NYC.  The sun was shining and there was a bird on the window ledge looking in at us.  I could hear the nurses talking about how "what a cutie" you were and one of them said, "OMG he knows his name".  I told her that we talked to you by name during the entire pregnancy.  You were peacefully aware, taking in all the new sights and sounds.  It was an extraordinarily beautiful day because you were in the world.



You have filled my life with laughter, creativity, adventure and joy!  May you always know how deeply loved and admired you are....and that I celebrate you...today and forever! 

Thank you for being YOU!

Thank you for being my son.

Thank you for the reciprocal gift of unconditional love and all the ways you show it.  




(for beautiful you are my world, my true)





Happy 21st ride around the sun, dear Satchel! 



All my love,

Mama 

(posted at the time of your birth)

April - Better than I could've imagined

"Rivers are fluid bridges—channels of communication between separate worlds. They link one bank to the other, the past to the future..." - Elif Shafak (There are Rivers in the Sky)

Wherein I had an adventure in NY with dear ones. 

4/22 - Wednesday:

 Upon arrival, I met up with my soul sister H.  We met went to visit M at her concert in Time Sq for a quick hug, then went for some Thai Food.  It was so lovely to spend time together.  Afterwards I walked down to Union Square to meet up with S.  We went back to his place uptown to sleep.

4/23 - Thursday:

In the morning I grabbed a latte and took a walk in the park where I met a kindred spirit - an artist who worked with psychiatric patients and a volunteer gardener.  S jokingly sent a text that he was filing a missing persons report. When I returned he pretended to be talking to the police.  We drove to the Butterfly exhibit and then to my favorite pizza joint.  We went to the Gelato Factory and ended the day with Jacob Collier and Chris Thile at The Blue Note. I enjoyed the playful connection that the two musicians shared.

4/24 - Friday:

The following morning I took a walk to The Cloisters and on the way back I met a dad with 2 wee boys looking for bugs.  I asked if I could play too and found some Isopods for his bug jar.  It was fun playing with them and reminded me playing with my son when he was a tot.  When I returned we went for a bite in the garden at a nearby cafe, then to lovely Little Island and walked the High Line.  We went to Sam Yoo's place, Golden Diner and shared Sun Choke salad, Vegetalian, and Portobello Reuben Quesadilla.  We ended the day at the Met to see La Boheme, where we stared at the Chagall and hilarity ensued via improved opera near the water dispenser.

4/25 - Saturday:

In the morning I went for a quick walk in the park before we headed to Cold Spring to visit Little Stony Point in the rain.  We stopped for Bagels and Linzer Tarts to take with us.  We talked about my plan to downsize, and the possibility of moving back home to NY.  The drive was lovely and the view from the river bank reminded me of the fjords of Iceland.  He asked, "Is it every thing you had hoped for?"  I said, "It's better than I could've imagined".  We continued to the cliff for another beautiful view.  We then drove to Catskill, stopped for ice cream and sneaked into an event at the Thomas Cole. Afterward, we went to see Mountain Jam Band before crashing at his home overlooking Olana. 

4/26 - Sunday:
In the morning, I grabbed a latte to go, and he drove me back to Penn to catch my train.  I thought about both H and S suggesting that I move back home to NY.  Although I considered it many times over the years,  I didn't think it was doable and it never occurred to me, at the time, to look north of Manhattan.  Yet standing there on the bank of the Hudson, that rainy Sunday, I felt pulled as strongly as when I longed to move to Manhattan (and did) decades ago.  The pull is palpable, like the river itself.  I shall investigate — and chart my course.

Park of the kindred spirit

Malachite at Butterfly Vivarium

Cloisters Fountain

Fjords: Little Stony Point

Thomas Cole